Northern Michigan University now offers a degree in Medicinal Plant Chemistry in what seems to be the first four-year undergraduate degree program of its kind.

“The historical stigma associated with cannabis is quickly vanishing, and although there is a surge in businesses related to the marijuana economy, there is a major gap in educational opportunities available to prepare people for this field,” the university’s website states.

“No other 4-year undergraduate degree program in the world combines rigorous coursework in chemistry and biology with research and hands on instrumental analysis built into the curriculum to prepare its graduates for a career in the cannabis industry.”….

“The new Medicinal Plant Chemistry degree was created to produce graduates who are analytical chemists. The program adheres to the highest industry standards and regulations and focuses on analyzing, precisely measuring and extracting active ingredients of medicinal plants, including cannabis,” Derek Hall, a spokesman for the university, told The College Fix via email….

When asked what kinds of job opportunities graduates of the program can expect Hall told The Fix that the curriculum prepares students for careers in “the laboratory analysis sectors of the cannabis, natural products, food chemistry or vitamin supplement industries.”….

Hey, in the context of a world where marijuana is becoming a specialty commodity with a legitimate national and global system of production and distribution, the knowledge that a degree such as this implies would be very economically viable. This isn’t a hobby or a cottage industry; this is big business, and there’s need of people to optimally guide production and quality and variants. Same as with any other agricultural commodity. Do you doubt it?

(I’m not endorsing the industry, which is another discussion entirely. I’m not noting that it is an industry.)